The last delivery had a few ups and downs, but it had ended on the biggest high I’d had since starting this project. Adding so many plates to the lower frame of the Millennium Falcon was nothing short of incredible and had really reignited my passion for the project. Instead of just looking at a metal frame, I could now look at something that was much closer to the ship I knew and loved. Yet there was one problem, it had been the last issue of the current delivery. It meant I had to wait for the new delivery to arrive and it couldn’t come fast enough!
Now I talk about my passion, but I was not doing this project alone. With me was my own co-pilot, who might not be as hairy but could surely be as scary, my eight-year-old daughter Ember. I had the feeling she too had been losing a bit of enthusiasm for the project. So many small fiddly pieces with not a lot really to show for it on the main model. Now after part forty-six, she, like me, was raring to go!
The delivery that arrived was the standard type and thankfully this time, arrived in a box (as opposed to the bag for the last one!). Inside were five issues. I was excited to get started but couldn’t help noticing that there were new jig pieces. I knew what they must be for: the top part of the hull. Looking around at my rather small study, I did wonder where on earth was that going to go! Knowing how long it took to get a full set together for the lower, I knew this could be a problem for a few weeks down the line!
Without wanting to wait any longer, I had a look through issue forty-seven. Thankfully the previous installment had mentioned what we would be doing, so I wasn’t disappointed. We would be adding more detail to the lower hull. It’s what both me and Ember wanted to do. All the little parts that need crafting, like the turrets, are fun to do, however, it is not quite the same as constructing the actual hull of the Falcon. Like last time, we’d need to be finding the different plates that we would need and doing some gluing and plenty of screwing. While I usually get all this ready for when Ember joins me, last time she had so much fun finding the pieces herself. When we came to adding them to the metal frame, she already knew the pieces, recognising the shape of them. Not only was the ship growing around us, our relationship with how we interacted with it was growing too.
There weren’t as many parts needed as in issue forty-six, but it still took us some hunting, having to go back a fair few issues to find the parts we needed. Unlike the last installment, there were parts within this one that we would be needing to complete this build. There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to be a lengthy issue, I didn’t even look at the next part to see if we could do both in a single sitting. I wasn’t even sure we’d be able to do this part in a single go.
When we started the issue, Ember was very happy to find all the different parts and place them on the floor as they were arranged in the magazine. I could just sit back and watch her do all this; it was rather pleasant for a change! As soon as they were sorted, it was time to fit the center housing. Ember does not like using super glue and at her age, I’m not too sure how I’d feel giving her much free reign. Thankfully she was very happy for me to take the lead but even she went wow when she saw us adding the concussion missile housing. In truth, so was I! Taking it and actually adding it to the assembly was something else. It might not seem like a big piece, but it changed the shape of the frame we had built, it was starting to take on the shape of the Falcon. Like the previous issue, Ember wanted me to screw in the pieces and she’d get the screws and parts ready. I did tell her that she didn’t need to worry about breaking the plastic, but she was quite content to watch. This was great for me as I could actually do something substantial for the build, yet I still had Ember by my side.
It also worked well for me doing the screws because there was a bit of an issue with the fitting of all the houses that followed: the fixing lugs. They require a lot of effort. Trying to get the plates lined up, then flipping the structure over and then screwing them all together was difficult enough for me. I don’t think Ember would have coped. She could see me straining to have the lugs level with the frame, and level they need to be. There is a snap when you get it right but being plastic, you also have a moment of oh no, did I break something! The plastic is tough thankfully, so I had no breakages, but I will be glad to see the back of the lugs.
The rear housing I had been a bit worried about, as the previous issue I wasn’t convinced the rear plates were sitting completely flat. Luckily, it was me being an over worrier, as with the rear housing, everything lined up beautifully. By the time we finished this I could see Ember was losing a bit of concentration. To be fair to her, we’d been working on the Falcon for over an hour. We took a break. This allowed me to look at the last few bits again and I could see it was all gluing; Ember wouldn’t be able to help me much. I gave her the choice and she was happy just to let me finish it. It was rods and magnets, although I did get myself superglued together a few times. Maybe the force was guiding Ember so at least her fingers were safe from not doing this part.
With it all done I looked in wonder. This really did look like the bottom of the Falcon. Sure, there were a few gaps that were going to have to be sorted, but it felt like the Falcon. When Ember came to inspect my handiwork for the last parts, her eyes went wide, I could see she was impressed how far we had come.
This was a great installment for me. The lower hull is taking shape at a rapid rate and there are plenty in these issues that I can sink my teeth into. Of course, I love that I can do all this with Ember, but it was actually a pleasant reprieve to have some alone time with the project as well. The last two parts have been large. For adults, this is perfect; for Ember, they’re perhaps a little too big to do in a single sitting. While this has been an advantage to me, I know that in the future I need to break these issues up for her so she can still be a part of every step. It is after all supposed to be a daddy/daughter project! This delivery has started on an absolute high for me. Visually it’s incredible, I just hope it can continue this high expectation I now have!
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